My name is Heather Gilmore but you will also see Gilmore-Dooley. That is my legal name but I am no longer married (thank goodness), so I'd rather you call me by proud name of Gilmore. I am currently a student at Walden University working on my PhD in Education specializing in Learning, Instruction, and Innovation. I was placed in this specialization because of my interests. I absolutely love my students and love to teach higher education. I love getting students as Freshmen, who I call my puppies, because I can mold them into good students and watch them progress to adults which is such a great feeling. So, I am a firm believer in mentoring and that is what my main focus in school is, however I do have one other passion, which is sex. Honestly, since I was about 12 years old, I fell in love with Playboy. It is and has been a dream of mine to meet Hugh Hefner. I've been to the mansion, but did not meet him, rather talked to the rock outside of the gate who was security and the guy allowed me to take the newspaper. Yes, I still have this newspaper. I sent my friends daily sex facts and they have learned more information about sex from me than anywhere else. So, at the residencies, I have been called the Sex Doctor which I am okay with.
Let's see what other information should you know about me! Besides being a student, I am a daughter and little sister to my two older sisters. I have one nephew who is the LOVE of my life and many...many other nieces and nephews who I love dearly but are not necessarily blood. I did my undergraduate at Northern Kentucky University, and would live there if the weather would cooperate with my neurological pain disease known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). In basic terms, my nervous systems tells my brain that I am constantly in pain 24/7. I have been in and out of the hospital, but do not allow it to take over. It almost got me in November, 2012 as one of my procedures placed me in the ICU and I was pronounced Dead Upon Arrival (Code Blue), and if it were not for my best friend (Dad), and his driving ability, I would not be here today to write this blog.
I do have a dog, his name is Oscar and he is my little buddy. It's funny how dogs can sense if you are not feeling well. He's gotten to the point where he does not leave my side, so I am currently seeing if I can make him a therapy dog so I can bring him everywhere with me. I know he will pass the tests, I just need to further investigate. Yes, this is my first blog (EVER). I am not too sure about having a blog, because I am a very private person, but I'm thinking that this may be therapeutic and could help me understand my students and colleagues even better!
My interests besides school are the following:
Tennis, men (yes, I'm single and would love to find someone), my family, sushi, DUKE Men's basketball, pretty much all sports (yes I'm that girl), amusement parks (I am a born and raised So Cal girl so, going to Disneyland and all the others are a must), and lastly, I really enjoy traveling. I have been to 37 states in the United States and it's on my bucket list to eventually visit them all. Additionally, I will attend all of the tennis Grand Slams in this order: Wimbledon, US Open, Australian, French.
A brief evaluation of the effects of blogging on learning allows for peer feedback, as well as blogging could have the effect for the higher level of learning skills, makes the learner active in their learning journey, and can be very interactive. Furthermore, the teacher can evaluate and observe the students and encourage interaction between all the students, rather than making them feel as if they are scared to speak in class. I will learn more about the effect of blogging on learning because this is the first time I am using a blog, so I will be learning the effects and will be able to give more detailed information once I start seeing what the blog is doing for me and my students.
Below are some pictures of my dog, Oscar. A link to learn more about RSD (www.rsdsa.org). And a little bit more pictures of me so you can see that although I am a scholar practitioner, I do not take myself serious at all! I love to have fun and enjoy life because you never know when God will decide that it's my time to go.
Lastly, I'd like you all to know that my grandmother (let her rest in peace of 20 years), was and is still the most influential individual in my life. So, if you see many of my blog posts are about her, my family, my disease, etc., it is because these are the things that matter to me the most.
I appreciate the time for you visiting my blog! Let's see how this progresses!!!
Heather
AKA: Gooch
This is Oscar also known as Muffin
My best friend (DAD) and I at a DUKE game
Two of the most important people in my life
My nephew Kai! He is my world!!! 
Me in the many hospital visits still having fun! 
This is an example of a flare up!
My amazing support group!!! I walked this RSD walk in San Diego, CA 3 days after leaving the ICU and I WALKED the entire mile! 